Fundraiser to help kidney transplant

Monday

Mar 31, 2008 at 12:01 AMMar 31, 2008 at 12:42 PM

Rob Rushman saw his wife's friend, Linda Staker, struggling through dialysis after sudden kidney failure. He has volunteered to give up one of his kidney's. The only problem: this procedure and the time Rob needs to take off to recover from it is not covered by his insurance. As such, friends will toss a party April 6 to help raise funds. The next day is the transplant surgery.

Terry Bibo

Linda Staker needs a kidney; Rob Rushman has two.

The way he tells it, the 36-year-old Pekin man watched Ellen Degeneres give some lucky viewer a whole 12 days worth of Christmas gifts a few months ago, and did his own math.

"You could see her eyes light up. You could see how happy that made Ellen, too," Rushman said Monday. "I thought, I can’t do the money thing. But I can do the kidney thing."

Rob and his wife, Denna, had watched Linda suffer for months. Chronic hypertension destroyed Linda Staker’s kidneys last summer. The 52-year-old Chillicothe woman had been friends with Denna Rushman for 20 years, and Rob’s friend for the past 11. And now Linda’s entire life centered around dialysis treatments.

"I saw the toll that it was taking on her," Rob said.

Unless they are directly affected, few people understand how difficult dialysis can be. Linda needs it three times a week, four hours at a time. Dialysis takes the place of your kidneys, filtering toxins from your body, but she said you feel even worse for quite a while afterwards.

"Thank goodness there is such a thing as dialysis, but it’s a hard way to live," she said. "You shake. Your blood pressure can just completely drop out on you. You can seize up with cramps. Your whole body is one big Charlie horse."

After he decided to help, Rob went through all kinds of tests and blood work to see if it was possible. On March 4, they found out he was a match. On April 7, they’re scheduled to have the transplant.

"Normally, people don’t say they’re looking forward to surgery," Linda said. "But I’m looking forward to having a new kidney so I don’t have to live like this."

"I’m looking forward to the time off," he said amiably. "I’m not looking forward to the pain part of it."

If all goes well, he will be in the hospital for four days; she will be in for five. Recovery takes four to six weeks; her’s might be a little longer. His time off work is not covered for this type of elective surgery.

So some of their other friends decided to throw a party. There will be a benefit from 2-5 p.m. Sunday, April 6, at the Brass Rail on Farmington Road. That includes live music, food, and items for sale. (Donations can also be made to the Rob Rushman and Linda Staker Kidney Transplant account at CEFCU. For more information, contact 633-7000.)

In part, they want to celebrate the gift of friendship. Also in part, they want to let other people know they can make a gift of life. Both say they hope more people will consider organ donations.

Rob knows there is risk. He’s willing to take it.

"We’ve got to let God take the wheel. I’m not the type who worries about stuff like this," Rob says. "I’m not the type to live in fear."